A TEESSIDE University graduate went back to his roots as a key speaker at the annual Animex festival.

Phil Shoebottom is now a senior lead artist at Realtime UK, having graduated from the universitys creative visualisations course in 2003. After returning from his Blackpool-based post to visit the Animex festival for the past two years, Phil was more than happy to return for a third year as a guest speaker.

Phil has risen through the ranks and inspired students with his story. He said: I met my wife here and made some good friends and I wouldnt be where I am today without doing the course here.

Of Animex, he said: The interaction you get to have with speakers at the meets afterwards at networking events is great.

This year, film-maker Mark Osborne, a co-director on the animated blockbuster Kung Fu Panda, travelled from America to take his place among the speakers.

Mark, director of Happy Product Inc, said: Ive heard good things about Animex, so when they called me I jumped at the chance.

Marks own short film MORE was recently nominated for an Oscar. He described how it took three-and-a-half years to make Kung Fu Panda. He encouraged students not to be afraid of trying new things. He said: Its OK to make mistakes and I would say give yourself that luxury as you will gain from the experience.

Other speakers included Max Howard, head of Exodus Film Group and a member of Bafta and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences. James Baxter, head of character animation at DreamWorks, also shared his experiences.